Dawnlark Plains the imp of the perverse

He kind of expected her to refute his claim or maybe even tell him he was being insolent. Atreus gulped, bracing himself for the inevitable consequences of his candor. But his aunt only pressed him, asking him to explain why he felt the way he did.

He pulled a face. Not once in his life had anybody but Ancelin bothered to show him the slightest bit of affection. The only people who’d ever seemed to want him otherwise were strangers like Void and Amalia. His mother had left, his father was distant and even the woman standing before him hadn’t reached out to him until now. He would never forget what her daughter had done to him either.

Because it’s the truth, he replied, aware that he was playing with fire and would surely trip a wire if he kept speaking his mind.